5 votes

If the age-old theory of soulmates is but a theory, why are so many inclined to believe in it?

6 comments

  1. [3]
    wedgel
    Link
    There are over six billion people on the planet. I'm pretty sure you would mesh with more than one of them.

    There are over six billion people on the planet. I'm pretty sure you would mesh with more than one of them.

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      But after enough time together, assuming everything is going well, I would argue that you have become soul mates. None of those other potentials actually knows you so well, and you them. Is it too...

      But after enough time together, assuming everything is going well, I would argue that you have become soul mates. None of those other potentials actually knows you so well, and you them.

      Is it too cheesy to quote The Good Place? “Soul mates aren’t found. They’re made.”

      7 votes
      1. mrbig
        Link Parent
        It is definitely not cheesy to quote The Good Place.

        It is definitely not cheesy to quote The Good Place.

  2. [3]
    ShroudedMouse
    Link
    Consider a random pair of people in a similar age range. They spend their formative years bumbling through failed relationships. They pause. Prepare themselves for relationships. Eventually they...

    Consider a random pair of people in a similar age range. They spend their formative years bumbling through failed relationships. They pause. Prepare themselves for relationships. Eventually they try romance again and, bam, it works. Not necessarily because they're so right for each other but also because they're so right for any decent relationship at that time.

    From the perspective of these lovebirds, they've suddenly met their perfect match! Unlike with all the others, everything works! No need to look further and so an assumption is fostered - a useful one - that all the other people would have been inferior matches. But testing out any of them is forbidden! :P

    4 votes
    1. moocow1452
      Link Parent
      https://what-if.xkcd.com/9/ goes into detail on how the idea of one specific soulmate for each individual would be a horrifying condition.

      https://what-if.xkcd.com/9/ goes into detail on how the idea of one specific soulmate for each individual would be a horrifying condition.

      5 votes
    2. mrbig
      Link Parent
      It might be reasonable to say that the person that I am now is ideal to the person that she is now. I might be ideal to a past significant other now too (and vice versa), but a history of failure...

      It might be reasonable to say that the person that I am now is ideal to the person that she is now. I might be ideal to a past significant other now too (and vice versa), but a history of failure is generally hard to overcome. Better try something new.

      2 votes